Defaults were the @subreddits to which new @Reddit users are subscribed. Up to May 2017, these subreddits were chosen by @Administrators based on content and activity, but changes to Reddit's architecture discontinued this practice with the development of /r/popular. Retiring the defaults decreases the monopoly default subreddits maintain on popularity and voting, giving more attention to previously smaller and more niche subreddits.

References

1. Testing a New Sign Up Experience, reddit.com
2. Default Subreddits Are Over. How Will This Affect Community Dynamics, reddit.com

Contexts

• #reddit-lexicon (See: @Reddit Glossary)